{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DDEE7DE8-7E59-417E-ACB6-CC58BBA6BB18", "Thune: Bipartisan COVID Relief Package is a Win for the American People", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the recent bipartisan agreement on a new targeted COVID-19 relief package, for which he has been advocating for months. This legislation will include a second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding for the hardest-hit small businesses and additional money to help schools reopen and safely operate, support vaccine distribution, and prioritize coronavirus treatment and other frontline medical needs. Thune also noted that the agreement will include his Paycheck Protection for Producers Act, which will help more farmers and ranchers benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program, and an extension of his Employer Participation in Repayment Act, which was originally included in a previous COVID relief package. The Senate is expected to consider the agreement as soon as today.\n\nExcerpt of Thune\u2019s remarks:\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m very pleased that we have reached an agreement on a final COVID relief package \u2013 and none too soon.\n\n\u201cLast week, we celebrated what will hopefully be a turning point in the COVID fight \u2013 the first U.S. coronavirus vaccinations.\n\n\u201cWe need to build on that momentum and make sure that vaccine distribution goes swiftly and smoothly \u2013 so that we can vaccinate as many Americans as possible, as quickly as possible.\n\n\u201cThe COVID relief package will help us achieve that goal by providing important funding for vaccine distribution.\n\n\u201cIt will also provide critical support to Americans to help them weather the rest of this pandemic, including:\n\n\u201cA second round of Paycheck Protection funding for the hardest-hit small businesses.\n\n\u201cMoney to help schools reopen and safely operate so that our kids aren\u2019t left behind.\n\n\u201cAnd more money for coronavirus treatment and other front-line medical priorities.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m very pleased that the final package includes my Paycheck Protection for Producers Act, which will help more farmers and ranchers benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program.\n\n\u201cThe bill also includes funding to allow the Department of Agriculture to provide additional assistance to farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cAg producers were dealing with a challenging agriculture economy even before the pandemic hit, and the coronavirus has only made things tougher.\n\n\u201cI strongly advocated for including additional funding for farmers and ranchers in this legislation, and I am very glad that the final bill includes this support.\n\n\u201cThe final package also explicitly makes biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel eligible for USDA assistance, at the discretion of the secretary of agriculture.\n\n\u201cBiofuel producers have suffered from the drop in fuel demand during the pandemic, and I hope the secretary will ensure that they are able to receive assistance \u2013 which will further help our ag economy recover.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m very happy that the COVID relief package includes an extension of the Thune-Warner Employer Participation in Repayment Act.\n\n\u201cThe Thune-Warner bill allows employers to make tax-free contributions to their employees\u2019 student loans, up to $5,250 per year.\n\n\u201cThis is a win for employees, who get help paying off their student loans.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s a win for employers, as they look to attract and retain talented workers.\n\n\u201cOur bill was included in the CARES Act \u2013 the major coronavirus relief legislation we passed in March \u2013 but it was scheduled to expire at the end of the year.\n\n\u201cUnder the coronavirus relief package, however, our legislation will be extended for an additional five years.\n\n\u201cThe COVID relief package also includes Senator Cornyn\u2019s Small Business Expense Protection Act, which I co-sponsored.\n\n\u201cThis legislation will ensure that small businesses that qualify for forgiveness of their Paycheck Protection Program loans can still deduct their ordinary business expenses on their taxes.\n\n\u201cThe relief package also includes legislation I introduced this summer with Senator Enzi that will establish anti-fraud measures within the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, so that we can ensure that beneficiaries are truly eligible for the program.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ve addressed a lot of coronavirus priorities in this relief package, and I am very pleased that we are finally getting it out the door.\n\n\u201cRepublicans spent months pushing for additional, targeted coronavirus relief, and I am glad that Democrats finally decided they were ready to work with us in a bipartisan way to arrive at legislation.\n\n\u201cI am sorry that my Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act was not included in the final bill.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation would have prevented unexpected tax bills and tax complications for medical professionals who traveled to other states to help during the pandemic, and for Americans who worked from home to help slow the virus\u2019s spread.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that opposition from a handful of states with aggressive taxation policies \u2013 like the Senate Democrat leader\u2019s home state of New York \u2013 has so far prevented legislation like mine from getting through Congress, but I will continue to fight for tax relief for remote and mobile workers.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s been a very difficult year for our country.\n\n\u201cAnd this winter is likely to be very challenging.\n\n\u201cBut the light at the end of the tunnel is coming.\n\n\u201cAnd we are going to make it through.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", 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